Endnote 5 – The “Pierced Messiah” Text—An Interpretation Evaporates

Such a fallen messiah, called the messiah son of Ephraim or the messiah son of Joseph, is attested in later rabbinic literature. For example, the Targum to Zechariah 12:10 reads: “Afterwards, the messiah son of Ephraim shall go forth to engage in battle with Gog [the leader of the eschatological enemy], and Gog shall kill him before the gate of Jerusalem.” Cf. also Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 52a.